Tether Adds USDT and Tether Gold to Opera MiniPay to Expand Stablecoin Access
Tether has integrated USDT and Tether Gold (XAUt0) into Opera’s MiniPay wallet, aiming to broaden access to dollar- and gold-backed digital value in emerging markets. MiniPay, built on the Celo blockchain, has expanded from Africa to over 60 countries and reported 3.6 million on-chain users and 350 million transactions since its late‑2023 launch, with 50% growth in Q4 2025. USDT — with a roughly $186 billion market cap — enables users to send, receive and hold digital dollars without needing deep blockchain knowledge. Tether Gold provides a gold-backed, inflation-resistant saving option. Executives emphasized financial inclusion: Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said the move helps deliver reliable stable value to those who need it most, while Opera’s EVP Jørgen Arnesen highlighted that direct USDT integration converts smartphone reach into practical financial access. The partnership targets further expansion in Latin America and Southeast Asia and underscores a push toward mobile-first, low-cost crypto payments in emerging economies.
Bullish
Integration of USDT and Tether Gold into Opera’s MiniPay is bullish for several reasons. First, direct wallet integration with a mobile-first product that already has 3.6 million on-chain users materially increases on‑ramps and real-world utility for USDT, likely supporting demand and transactional volume for USDT. Second, the addition of XAUt0 broadens use cases—providing a gold-backed savings instrument can attract risk-averse users in inflation-prone regions, diversifying stablecoin adoption beyond fiat-pegged use. Third, MiniPay’s geographic footprint (60+ countries, expanding in Latin America and Southeast Asia) targets high-growth markets with limited traditional banking access, which historically drives adoption spikes for convenient digital payment rails. Short-term, traders might see modest upward pressure on USDT-related trading pairs and increased stablecoin flows on Celo-based rails. Long-term, wider utility of USDT and XAUt0 in mobile wallets can reinforce stablecoin market dominance, increase on-chain liquidity, and support more remittance and payment volume—factors that are typically positive for crypto market infrastructure and stablecoin stability. Risks that could temper the bullish view include regulatory scrutiny of stablecoins in key jurisdictions and any operational issues with MiniPay or Celo that hinder scale. Overall, the announcement should be treated as positive for liquidity and adoption trajectories, benefiting stablecoin demand and payment-focused crypto services.